Device for controlling the position of a cylinder of a printing press



Jan. 23, 1968 w. KOCH ET AL 3,364,854

DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING THE POSITION OF A CYLINDER OF A PRINTING PRESS Filed June 15, 1965 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 In ven fors A/ER IVER Ko CH Fens-0km 7 250:;

Jan. 23, 19 58 W, K CH ET AL 3,364,854

DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING THE POSITION OF A CYLINDER OF A PRINTING PRESS Filed June 15, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 //7 en for: lw s/vmm A ger k EJJR/CH ksus's 3)} M W HTTORA/F vs United States Patent 3,364,854 DEVICE FOR CDNTROLLING THE POSITION OF A CYLINDER OF A PRINTENG PRESS Werner Koch, Offenbach am'Main, and Friedrich Preuss,

Neu-lsenburg, Germany, assignors to Roland Offsetmaschinenfabriir Faber & Schleicher A-G., Ofienbach am Main, Germany, a German firm Filed June 15, 1965, Ser. No. 464,118 Claims priority, application Germany, June 25, 1964, R 38,211 3 Claims. ((31. 101-218) The present invention relates to a device for moving a cylinder of a printing press into or out of an operational position, and more particularly, to a device for moving a printing press cylinder which is displaceable parallel to its axis iri side Walls of the frame structure of the press.

There are known devices of the general kind above referred to in which displacement of the cylinder is effected by means of a toggle or elbow joint coupled between each end bearing for the cylinder and thrust bearings on the respective side wall of the frame structure of the press. The toggle joint, in turn, is controlled by a control lever which is displaceable by means of a lever linked to a link of the toggle joint and pivotal through a constant angle. In cylinder control devices of this kind, the thrust bearing comprises a pivot pin which is fixedly mounted on the respective side Wall. Such an arrangement limits displacement of the cylinder position to moving the same into or out of its operational position. Accordingly, additional adjustment means must be provided to vary the operational cylinder position in conformity with the gauge of the sheet material, such as paper, to be printed.

It is a broad object of the invention to provide a novel and improved device of the general kind above referred to with which the operational position of the cylinder can be adjusted in accordance with the gauge of the sheet material to be printed, thereby making unnecessary the provision of special adjustment means. As a result, the press as a whole becomes less complex and less expensive.

According to the invention, such adjustability of the operational position of the cylinder is attained by replacing the conventional fixedly mounted thrust hearing by a thrust bearing, the position of which in reference to the respective bearing for the cylinder, is adjustable.

When the device of the invention is used in conjunction with a three-cylinder off-set printing press, the blanket cylinder thereof is journalled at each end in a single eccentric bearing. When this bearing is turned within a first predetermined angular range, the blanket cylinder is retracted in reference to the impression cylinder of the press while substantially retaining its operational position in reference to the plate cylinder and when the bearing is further turned within a second predetermined angular range, the blanket cylinder is retracted in reference to the plate cylinder also. Accordingly, the operational position of the blanket cylinder in reference to the impression cylinder is adjustable within said first angular range in accordance with the gauge of the sheet material to be printed while maintaining substantially constant print transfer conditions between the plate cylinder and the blanket cylinder.

The invention also encompasses a thrust bearing including a crank mechanism. This mechanism comprises a crank member mounting a crank pin linked to a link of the toggle joint. When the crank member is turned, the spacing between the pin and the respective bearing for the cylinder is correspondingly changed. Turning of the crank member is preferably effected by a self-arresting gear drive, such as a worm gearing. However, the crank member itself may be self-arresting by providing an eccentric crank pin by suitably enlarging the pin.

3,3h4,854 Patented Jan. 23, IQSS The invention further provides that turning of the crank mechanism varies the operational spacing of one cylinder in reference to a second cylinder to effect adjustment of the press for diiferent gauges of the sheet material to be printed while actuation of the toggle joint moves the respective cylinder into or out of operational engagement with the second cylinder. Since adjustment for different gauges generally requires only a minor adjustment of the position of the respective cylinder, the larger displacement obtainable by links of the toggle joint is preferably utilized to effect movement of the respective cylinder into or out of its operational position. The arrangement is preferably such that when the respective links of the toggle joint are in a rather steep angular position in reference to each other, the coacting cylinders are in the non-operational position in reference to each other and when the links of the toggle joint are substantially aligned in reference to each other, but preferably slightly pressed past the dead center position of the joint, the cylinders are in the operational position.

The invention also provides that the non-operational or inactive position of the cylinder, which is displaced by actuation of the toggle joint, is always substantially the same irrespective of the operational position of said cylinder as adjusted for the gauge of the sheet material to be printed. If, for instance, heavy cardboard is to be printed, which requires a correspondingly wide spacing between the blanket cylinder and the impression cylinder in the operational positions of said cylinders, the introduction of an additional path of retraction of constant length may cause a play in a gear train of the press to an extent such that the gears are no longer safely in mesh. The device of the invention eliminates this danger.

It is also within the purview of the invention to provide a device in which the crank member of the thrust bearing in conjunction with the links of the elbow or toggle joint as coupling and with rotatable eccentric bearings for the respective cylinder form a four-hinge transmission chain in which the links of the toggle joints are angularly disposed in reference to each other when the cylinder is in its non-operational position and are substantially aligned preferably slightly past the dead center position of the toggle joint when the cylinder is in its operational position. The four-hinge transmission chain is enlarged to a six-hinge transmission chain by a displaceable control arm hinged at one end to a link of the tog le joint and at the other end to a pivotal actuating lever. The pivot axis of the control arm at its end hinged to the link travels along an approximately circular are when the control arm is pivoted for moving the cylinder into or out of its operational position. This circular arc has a radius substantially equal to the length of the control arm and constitutes a coupling curve as will be more fully explained hereinafter.

This has the advantage that in the non-operational position of the cylinder, the spatial position of the eccentric bearings therefor remains substantially unchanged and is independent of the spatial position of the cylinder in its operational position as adjusted in accordance with the gauge of the sheet material to be printed. Similarly, the links of the elbow or toggle joint remain in the substantially aligned positions'irrespective of the spatial position of the cylinder in its operational position as adjusted for the gauge of the sheet material to be printed.

As the result, a stable, rugged, very simple device is attained which has the additional advantage that it requires only a single eccentric hearing at each end of the cylinder to be displaced since turning of said bearings effects both, movement of the cylinder parallel to its rotational axis into or out of its operational position and adjustment of thecylinder for the specific printing operation to be carried out with the press of which the cylinder constitutes part.

Other and further objects, features and advantages will be pointed out hereinafter and set forth in the appended clairns constituting part of the application.

In the accompanying drawing, a preferred embodiment of the irivention is shown by way of illustration and not by way of limitation.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of the device, the cylinder controlled by the device being shown in its non-operational position;

FIG. 2 is a plan view, partly in section, of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the cylinder controlled by the device in its operational position; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view of FIG. 3 on an enlarged scale.

The control device according to the invention, the bearings and other components essential to the understanding of the invention, are shown only for one end of the cylinder controlled by the device, but it should be understood that substantially the same assemblage is provided at the other end of the cylinder also. Furthermore, it should be understood that only those components of the printing press are shown that are essential for the understanding of the device according to the invention and participate in the function thereof.

Referring now to the figures in detail, these figures show a plate cylinder 1, an impression cylinder 2 and a blanket cylinder 3 of an off-set printing machine. Blanket cylinder 3 is journalled at one end in an eccentric bearing 4 which should be visualized as being mounted in a side wall 5 of the frame structure of the press. The rotational axis of blanket cylinder 3 and thus the center axis of bearing 4 are designed with 6 and the eccentricity of the bearing with 7. FIG. 4 shows the relation of points 6 and 7 on an enlarged scale, the connection line of axis 6 of the blanket cylinder with the axis of the plate cylinder being designated with 8 and the connection line of the axis 6 of the blanket cylinder with the axis of the impression cylinder with 9.

In the position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 blanket cylinder 3 engages impression cylinder 2. This is the position of these cylinders in reference to each other suitable for the printing of thin paper. 7

When bearing 4 is rotated in counterclockwise direction so that axis 6 occupies the position 601, the spacing 801 between blanket cylinder 3 and plate cylinder 1 remains substantially unchanged while the spacing 9 between the blanket cylinder and the impression cylinder increases by the distance of points 601/611 to the new spacing 901. This is the position of the cylinders for printing a heavy gauge of sheet material, such as strong cardboard. When the turning of bearing 4 in counterclockwise direction is continued, the axis of blanket cylinder 3 travels from point 601 to point 602. As a result, the distance between the axes of blanket cylinder 3 and impression cylinder 2 increases further by the distance of points 602/612 to the new value 902. In this position, blanket cylinder 3 is retracted from impression cylinder 2, that is, it is in its non-operational position. When the axis of blanket cylinder 3 travels from point 601 to point 602, cylinder 3 is also retracted from plate cylinder 1, that is, placed in its non-operational position in respect to the plate cylinder since the axial spacing between these two rollers increases by the distance between points 602/ 622 to a new value 802.

To obtain the aforedescribed displacements of the axes of the cylinders, bearing 4 has a radial extension including an eye 10. This eye serves to couple a link 11 of an elbow or toggle joint further including a link 12 hinged to link 11 by a hinge pin 13. The toggle joint, or more specifically, its link 12, is coupled'to a thrust bearing shown as a crank assembly including a crank pin 14 mounted on a disc-shaped crank member 15a rotatable in unison with a shaft 15. The crank assembly is rotatable by a preferably self-arresting drive shown as a worm 16 and a worm gear 17. Shaft 15 is preferably additionally supported by a bearing 18 suitably secured, for instance, by a screw connection to side wall 5 of the frame structure of the press. a

Link 12 of the toggle joint is provided with :a second hinge pin 19 to which is hinged one end of a control arm 20, the other end of which is hinged by a hinge pin 21 to an actuating lever 22. The lever is fixedly seated on a shaft 23 which may be visualized as extending across the entire width of cylinder 3 to permit simultaneous operation of the devices provided at both ends of the cylinder as previously explained.

Shaft 23 serves to effect movement of blanket cylinder 3 into or out of its operational position. It may be turned in clockwise or counterclockwise direction through a predetermined or selected angle by any suitable drive means, such as a cam controlled drive means. 7

The position of cylinder 3 shown in FIG. 3 in full lines is the operational position of the cylinder for printing thin paper as previously stated. In the event heavy cardboard is to be printed upon, shaft 15 is rotated in clockwise direction by worm drive 16, 17 until crank pin 14 occupies the dotted line position 14a. As is readily apparent, such displacement of the crank pin causes the toggle joint and also bearing 4 to move into the dotted line position in which axis 6 of blanket cylinder 3 has moved into the position 601 as shown in FIG. 4. The center axis of hinge pin 19 has moved along the full line part of a coupling curve 24. The average radius of this curved part is substantially equal to the effective length of control arm 20 and the center point of the curved path of pin 19 coincides with the axis of binge pin 21. As a result, the links 11 and 12 of the toggle joint retain the position shown in FIG. 3 in which the two links are pressed slightly past the aligned dead center position, in each angular position of crank pin 14.

FIG. 1 shows the non-operational position or, in other words, the retracted position of blanket cylinder 3, when thin paper is to be printed. As is shown in FIG. 4, the

rotational axis of cylinder 3 has moved from the position 6 into the position 602. When now crank pin 14 is moved into the position 14a by means of the worm drive 16 and 17, the axis of hinge pin 19 moves along the full line portion of coupling curve 25. This portion of the curve has also a radius which corresponds approximately to the effective length of control arm 20. The center point of the curvature again coincides with the center axis of hinge pin 21 which has movedinto the position of FIG. 1 by turning shaft 23 and with it lever 22 in counterclockwise direction. As a result, the axial position of blanket cylinder 3 in its non-operational or retracted position thereof is always the same and independent from the gauge of the paper for which the cylinders are adjusted.

The position 14a of the crank pin 14 may be visualized as constituting the position when a heavy cardboard is to be printed in which all the components occupy the position shown in FIG. 1 in dotted lines.

While the invention has been described in detail with respect to a certain now preferred example and embodiment of the invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art, after understanding the invention, that 7 various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and

it is intended, therefore, to cover all such changes and modifications in the appended claims.

What is claimed is: a

1. A mechanism for controlling the axial distance of the blanket cylinder in reference to the rotational axis of the impression cylinder and the plate cylinder of a three-cylinder offset printing press, said mechanism comprising in combination; Y a

a plate cylinder (1), an impression cylinder (2) and a blanket cylinder (3);

a rotatable eccentric bearing (4) supporting said blanket cylinder (3), the rotational position of said bearing controlling the spatial position of the axis of the blanket cylinder (3), rotation of said bearing varying the distance of the blanket cylinder axis from the axes of the other cylinders of the press for throwing the blanket cylinder into and oil? of a printing position in reference to said other cylinders in response to a rotation of said bearing;

a control shaft (23) rotatable about a spatially stationary axis;

a first control arm (22) fixedly secured to said shaft (23) for rotation in unison therewith;

a second control arm (20) hinged at one end to said first control arm;

a first toggle link (11) hinged at one end to a pivot axis on said bearing (4) for controlling the rotational position thereof by displacement of said link;

a second toggle link (12) hinged at one end to the other end of the first link (11) and at an intermediate point (19) to the other end of the second control arm (20) and a crank means (15, a, 14) including a crank member (15a) rotatable about a spatially stationary shaft (15) and a crank pin (14) eccentrically secured to said crank member, the other end of said second link (12) being hinged to said crank pin (14) whereby rotation of said crank means (14, 15 and 15a) causes a corresponding rotation of said bearing (4) via said toggle links (12 and 11) to effect fine adjustment of the blanket cylinder (3) and the impression cylinder (2) in reference to each other and rotation of the control shaft (23) causes a rotation of said bearing (4) via the control arms 22 and and the links (12 and 11) for throwing the blanket cylinder (3) into and out of coaction with the plate cylinder (1) and the impression cylinder (2).

2. A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the crank member (15a) and the crank pin (14) of the crank means (14, 15, 15a) in conjunction with the hinged together toggle links (11, 12) constitutes a four-hinge chain pivotal about the pivot axis (10) of the bearing (4), said first control arm 22 and said second control arm 20 hinged together and also hinged to the second link (12) by the second control arm (20) constituting in conjunction with said four-hinge chain a six-element transmission means which in response to a rotation of the control shaft (23) in one direction moves said bearing (4) into a rotational position such that the blanket cylinder (3) is thrown into its printing position and in response to a rotation of the control shaft (23) in the opposite direction is thrown 011 its printing position, said first and second links (11 and 12) occupying a substantially aligned toggle position when the blanket cylinder is moved into the thrown-in position and an angular position when the blanket cylinder is moved into the thrown-off position, said intermediate point (19) moving along a substantially circularly curved path (24, 25) about the pivot axis linking the second control arm (20) to the first control arm (22) as center point when and while the blanket cylinder is moved into and out of the printing position whereby irrespective of the angular position of the crank member (15a) and the crank pin (14) said links (11 and 12) are mutually selflocking in the thrown-in position of the blanket cylinder and said bearing (10) is always in substantially the same stationary position in the thrown-off position of the blanket cylinder.

3. A mechanism according to claim 2 wherein said crank means( 14, 15, 15a) includes link actuating means (16, 17) for rotating said crank member (15a) and retaining the same in a selected angular position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,301,970 4/1919 Pritchard 101218 2,146,963 2/1939 Lang 101247 XR 2,844,096 7/1958 Koch 1012l8 3,030,884 4/ 1962 Lindemann 101-247 XR 3,054,346 9/1962 Koch et al. 101-218 FOREIGN PATENTS 840,703 4/ 1952 Germany.

ROBERT E, PULFREY, Primary Examiner.

J. R. FISHER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A MECHANISM FOR CONTROLLING THE AXIAL DISTANCE OF THE BLANKET CYLINDER IN REFERENCE TO THE ROTATIONAL AXIS OF THE IMPRESSION CYLINDER AND THE PLATE CYLINDER OF A THREE-CYLINDER OFFSET PRINTING PRESS, SAID MECHANISM COMPRISING IN COMBINATION; A PLATE CYLINDER (1), AN IMPRESSION CYLINDER (2) AND A BLANKET CYLINDER (3); A ROTATABLE ECCENTRIC BEARING (4) SUPPORTING SAID BLANKET CYLINDER (3), THE ROTATIONAL POSITION OF SAID BEARING CONTROLLING THE SPATIAL POSITION OF THE AXIS OF THE BLANKET CYLINDER (3), ROTATION OF SAID BEARING VARYING THE DISTANCE OF THE BLANKET CYLINDER AXIS FROM THE AXES OF THE OTHER CYLINDERS OF THE PRESS FOR THROWING THE BLANKET CYLINDER INTO AND OFF OF A PRINTING POSITION IN REFERENCE TO SAID OTHER CYLINDERS IN RESPONSE TO A ROTATION OF SAID BEARING; A CONTROL SHAFT (23) ROTATABLE ABOUT A SPATIALLY STATIONARY AXIS; A FIRST CONTROL ARM (22) FIXEDLY SECURED TO SAID SHAFT (23) FOR ROTATION IN UNISON THEREWITH; A SECOND CONTROL ARM (20) HINGED AT ONE END TO SAID FIRST CONTROL ARM; A FIRST TOGGLE LINK (11) HINGED AT ONE END TO A PIVOT AXIS (10) ON SAID BEARING (4) FOR CONTROLLING THE ROTATIONAL POSITION THEREBY BY DISPLACEMENT OF SAID LINK; A SECOND TOGGLE LINK (12) HINGED AT ONE END TO THE OTHER END OF THE FIRST LINK (11) AND AT AN, INTERMEDIATE ATE POINT (19) TO THE OTHER END OF THE SECOND CONTROL ARM (20); AND A CRANK MEANS (15, 15A, 14) INCLUDING A CRANK MEMBER (15A) ROTATABLE ABOUT A SPATIALLY STATIONARY SHAFT (15) AND A CRANK PIN (14) ECCENTRICALLY SECURED TO SAID CRANK MEMBER, THE OTHER END OF SAID SECOND LINK (12) BEING HINGED TO SAID PIN (14) WHEREBY ROTATION OF SAID CRANK MEANS (14, 15 AND 15A) CAUSES A CORRESPONDING ROTATION OF SAID BEARING (4) VIA SAID TOGGLE LINKS (12 AND 11) TO EFFECT FINE ADJUSTMENT OF THE BLANKET CYLINDER (3) AND THE IMPRESSION CYLINDER (2) IN REFERENCE TO EACH OTHER AND ROTATION OF THE CONTROL SHAFT (23) CAUSES A ROTATION OF SAID BEARING (4) VIA THE CONTROL ARMS 22 AND 20) AND THE LINKS (12 AND 11) FOR THROWING THE BLANKET CYLINDER (3) INTO AND OUT OF COACTION WITH THE PLATE CYLINDER (1) AND THE IMPRESSION CYLINDER (2). 